Where Were You When... June 17, 1994 Happened?

There’s no way we could have known that this goofy Hertz commercial wouldn’t be the last time that Arnold Palmer and O.J. Simpson would become inexorably linked in the public consciousness. But on June 17, 1994, that’s exactly what happened. That, and these things, too:

You forgot it was that crazy, huh? Would you like to relive it?

Remember when Craig Kilborn and Karl Ravech hosted SportsCenter?

...Yeah, ESPN’s newest 30-for-30 documentary, June 17, 1994, is that kind of time capsule. People, places, events, and stories that we’ve just forgotten about.

And really, even if you remember exactly where you were and what it felt like watching this surreal car chase, it’d be impossible to remember all the context that accompanied O.J.‘s exploits. That’s why this documentary should be so great. The video above isn’t from the movie, but as The Onion’s AV Club points out, the documentary is even better:

Morgen uses no voice-over narration, no new talking-head interviews, and only a few on-screen titles (mostly at the beginning and end). Instead, he cuts together short snippets from the day’s various broadcasts, including footage from the pre-air feeds when reporters were primping and cracking jokes.

The AV Club gave it an A, and the reviews elsewhere have been similarly glowing. As the AV Club continues, “June 17, 1994 is more like a piece of music, manipulating the audience’s emotions but ultimately leaving us alone to have our own personal response to the composition.” In other words, the director, Brett Morgen, leaves room for everyone to interpret this from their own perspective. Just as he should. These are memories, and they mean different things to different people. But we all remember this day for one reason or another.

It’s a welcome change. So far, the 30 for 30 series from ESPN has been fantastic, but largely dependent on the subject matter. For instance, even if all the films are riveting and well-made... I just don’t care as much about the origins of fantasy baseball as I do the University of Miami football. So when does the series really shine?

With films like June 17, 1994, that appeal to just about everyone.

Whether you come for the commentary on media or the sensory overload of watching six stories unfold at once—and remembering how it felt to watch them in real-time—June 17, 1994 should be worth your time. I haven’t seen it yet, but given the concept and the early reviews, it’s one of those movies where you just know it’ll be great.

The film debuts tonight at 10 p.m. eastern on ESPN. Check it out.